My Cozy Little Farmhouse: PINTEREST

Showing posts with label PINTEREST. Show all posts

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Pinspirations-Spinach Artichoke Cheese Dip Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Recipes similar to this one were showing in my home feed on Pinterest.The looked and sounded delicious, so I thought I would try it.

I decided to use what I had on hand.

The chicken (2 packs for a total of 4 breasts) was just slightly on the frozen side, which made it nice to slice in half horizontally, reducing the thickness. I then used the meat mallet and pounded the breast's thinner. I added a small amount of the defrosted dip, smeared it on the rinsed chicken. I then rolled up the chicken, jelly roll style. Go slow, don't overfill, otherwise the filling would ooze out. I secured the rolls with toothpicks. The last chicken breast I left whole, split, then added the dip filling. Brush both sides of the the chicken rolls with oil, then liberally season with pepper, salt, garlic and onion powder.

These were placed on foil lined pan (with an extra spritz of oil) and bake at 400°F for 35-40 minutes
Here they are at 20 minutes and the filling is intact.

Finished baking. Remove the toothpicks (carefully) and let stand for 10-15 minutes.

A little better presentation.

Yum! The next time I make this--AND I WILL-- I think I would like to use fresh spinach, chopped canned artichokes, roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, scallions and pepper jack cheese. Maybe dredge the roll in an egg wash, followed by a dunk in seasoned bread crumbs.

Or maybe a southwest style stuffed with peppers, onions, corn and black beans served on a bed of rice.

I can think of all types of different fillings and stuffing. No more boring chicken ever!

Whatcha' think?

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Pinspirations-Kicked up Coffee Cake

I was awoken early this morning (about 430 am) as massive thunder & lightning storms rolled through the area. Since I was wide awake, thanks to the strobe light effect from the lightning, I tossed in a load of laundry, made myself a cuppa tea and starting perusing Pinterest. You know it is trouble when I utter the word...Pinterest, ha! I was hungry so I started browsing recipes because I am glutton (ha) for punishment. I found a recipe for Polish Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, which actually linked back to All Recipes. As a wave sleepiness overcame me, I snuggled back under the blankets as visions of cream cheese filled coffee cake filled my dreams...

Most of the reviews were positive, so I decided to move forward and make this coffee cake.Please click on the hyperlink to see the ingredients and quantities.

I used a glass pan and reduced my temperature to 325°F. Make the dough by creaming together sugar, butter and 1 egg. One combined and smooth, add sour cream and vanilla. Add to this the flour, baking soda, baking powder and I added some cinnamon for extra flavor and a pinch of salt. Mix well. The dough will be thick and sticky.

Heavily grease a 9x13 baking pan. Add half the dough into pan and press to bottom and sides. I tried to use my spatula and the dough was to sticky. So I washed my hands really well (again), sprayed then with a little cooking spray and pressed the dough into the pan. Setting the dough aside, I combined the 2 blocks of cream cheese, 1 egg, sugar, and I added 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice with 1/4 teaspoon real lemon extract. Once blended to a creamy consistency, pour over the dough in the pan and spread smooth.

Here is where I decided to Kick It Up! I had a jar of jam--one of my favorites! It isn't one that I made. It is from The Jam and Jelly Lady, which she is from whom I took my canning boot camp. The jam is so good. It is a soft style strawberry jam (no added pectin) with honey bourbon, cinnamon and hint of cayenne. Mmmmmm! I spooned about 6 teaspoons of jam over the cream cheese filling then used a knife to gently swirl it in. I then added the remaining dough over this filling as little chunks. I mixed up the flour, butter, pecan and brown sugar streusel, adding an extra 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of oats and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to get the consistency I needed because I only had 1/4 cup of pecans.

I baked this at 325°F for 55 minutes. I did a lower temperature because using a glass pan (you typically set the temperature 25° lower since glass is an very good conductor of heat) it took some extra time for the cheesecake center to set.

Hot from the oven!

It took forever to cool so I could try it! Look at that beautiful layer of cheesecake goodness!

Oh wow! It is very tender and moist. A hint of the jam flavors complements the cheesecake flavor.

I found the process to be somewhat labor intensive.

When I make this again, I would NOT layer the dough, it think I would "poke holes" in the dough with a wooden spoon do a layer of jam, the cheese filling (or vice versa) and then the streusel. I would also like to try different flavors--like cinnamon & brandied peaches? Definitely worth the effort!

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Pinspirations--Oven Fried Apple Pie

Soooo...I was bored and on Pinterest--which can only mean trouble for someone. Usually the hubbs, haha Except in this instance, I was hungry and he was safe from any Lucy-esque ideas because I don't joke around when it comes to food!

I suppose it could be telling that out of the 67 boards and 2000 plus pins, the board with the most pins is all about desserts. So nonetheless I was ~~drooling~~ scrolling through the pins when I came across an oven fried apple pie using canned biscuits.

My Pinspiration...

Oven Fried Apple Pie by Pillsbury

This recipe ACTUALLY belongs to Pillsbury and NOT the blog I was reading, which was passing it off as their own. Tsk, tsk--shady practices people!

Now y'all, I wouldn't say I am necessarily a food snob. Canned biscuits is one of those things on the very bottom of my food list of things that I will buy on occasion, but am not a fan of eating on a regular basis. I had a can that was gonna expire in about a week, which goes to show I really don't use them, if it was so close to the expiration.

The Ingredients
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 can Pillsbury™ Grands!™ refrigerated biscuits
1 can apple pie filling
4 teaspoons butter, melted

Out came the rolling pin and baking sheet.

The pie on the left had sprinkled cinnamon sugar whereas the one on the right was "dipped"

I baked mine at 300°F because I was using a dark coated baking sheet (15 minutes).
Voila!

How about some vanilla ice cream? Yum!!

And because I ~~was lazy~~ really wanted to eat this before my ice cream melted, I took the remaining 4 biscuits brushed with butter, dipped in the cinnamon sugar and rolled them 2 combined to make a top and bottom crust. Place the sugar coated crust down in the pan, dump on the rest of the pie filling, top with the sugar coated crust facing up, pull the edges and crimp. Sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture. Bake at 300°F, 25-30 minutes for a VERY rustic tart.

Ummm...nailed it?! haha

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Vintage Headboard

Technically it is a vintage (1930's-1940's) bed-frame (headboard, foot-board, side rails) including a dresser and mirror. I am saving the foot-board and rails for another project. The dresser is currently employed as a work surface and storage in my kitchen.

Here is the the very Plain Jane headboard which has been sitting in my garage for about a decade. I know it is shameful.

It's kinda dusty

And mirror which has some lovely detailing.

The mirror is just beginning to show some lovely patina on the glass

Close up of mirror detail

The nightstands I am using in the spare bedroom are white. I could paint it white and call it a day. But feel like it needs...something. Some decorative applique? Stencil? Decoupage? Upholster?

Here are some inspirations

thevisualvamp.blogspot.com

flickr.com

Shabby chic vintage cottage full size bed

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91376111

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/22425624

shabbynest.blogspot.com

Queen Size Romantic Cottage/Shabby Chic Mosaic Headboard/ Footboard Reserved for Trelan

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80133441

edhenhome.blogspot.com/2010/07/cricut-love.html

PlEaSe Do NoT PuRcHaSe Reserved Listing for Spazzie

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50411739

I kinda like them all! Suggestions?

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